Camden school commencement doubles as rally for voucher bill

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerAssemblyman Angel Fuentes pictured in this file photo said he needs for Assembly Speaker, Sheila Oliver to support the Opportunity Scholarship Act.

CAMDEN —The graduation ceremony for an alternative school in Camden was billed as a way to congratulate students overcoming obstacles in one of the nation’s poorest cities. But it often appeared more like a pep rally for the Opportunity Scholarship Act, a proposed school voucher program.

Politicians urged audience members to call lawmakers, school officials praised the program’s virtues and workers at the door handed out bright yellow T-shirts saying "one failing school is one too many."

"They said everyone had to wear a shirt," said Charles Washington, 24, of Pennsauken. "You couldn’t get in without a shirt."

Some of the state’s most powerful people attended the ceremony for the approximately 100 graduates of the Community Education Resource Network, an alternative school for dropouts. It also showcased the alliance — at least when it comes to education — between Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, and George Norcross, a Democratic power broker from South Jersey. Both are pushing the scholarship measure, which has stalled in the Legislature despite the support of Democrats and Republicans alike.

The bill would give businesses tax credits for donating to vouchers for low-income public school students. Those vouchers could be used to attend private and parochial schools. Although the bill is aimed at 13 districts, some Democrats are demanding it be less ambitious.

"Pick up the phone and call the speaker (Sheila Oliver)," Assemblyman Angel Fuentes (D-Camden) said while waving one of the yellow T-shirts. "Say I need for her to support the Opportunity Scholarship Act."

Norcross, the executive chairman of the insurance company Conner Strong & Buckelew, said the state’s leaders have failed to provide a good education in urban areas like Camden.

"It’s inexcusable that there are 3,000 kids in this city that are crying out for education, that are trapped and have no ability to change or to move," he said. "It’s now time to stop the talk, and it’s time to act."

Angel Cordero, co-founder of the Community Education Resource Network, introduced Christie as the person who will "save the children." Christie talked about how the graduating students could be a positive example around the state and said too many public schools are ineffective.

"We care much too much about the feelings of adults and much too little about the future of our children," Christie said. "That’s why the system is the way it is."